Shuttle cleaner for sewing machines



E. GOLDSTEIN I SHUTTLE CLEANER FOR SEWING MACHINES May 20, 1952 Filed Dec. 21, 1949 INVENTOR. ZZZ" 60162 522 1);

ATTEI RN EYE Patented May 20, 1952 UNITED STATES ATNT OFFICE SHUTTLE CLEANER FOR SEWING MACHINES I Eli Goldstein, Brooklyn, N. Application December 21, 1949, Serial No. 134,329

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a sewing machine, and more particularly to a shuttle-cleaning device for sewing machines.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which will maintain the shuttle of a sewing machine clean, whereby lint or other foreign matter will be prevented from breaking the thread or otherwise interfering with the normal operation of the sewing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will maintain a sewing machine shuttle clean at all times, whereby there will be efiected a saving in time and money that ordinarily is required for performing this cleaning task.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sewing machine shuttle-cleaning device which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals have been used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a sewing machine showing the cleaning device of the present invention arranged in engagement with the shuttle;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the shuttlecleaning device constructed according to the present invention;

Figure 3' is a sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the locking pins.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral l0 designates the frame of a conventional sewing machine, such as a high-speed sewing machine that is used by shoemakers. The frame I0 is cut away so as to provide a channel, and the channel includes a wide portion I I that communicates with a narrower portion l2. The narrow portion 12 of the channel defines a pair of spaced parallel side walls [3 and M. The numeral l5 designates a thread-carrying shuttle which is rotatably connected to the frame ill, the shuttle l5 being arranged in the wide portion H of the channel.

The present invention is directed to a cleaning device or wiper element which serves to remove or wipe lint or other foreign matter from the shuttle l5 so as to prevent the foreign matter from interfering from the normal operation of the sewing machine. The cleaning device of the present invention is designated generally by the numeral l6 and includes a base I! which is interposed between the side walls [3 and ll of the frame 10.

The base 11 of the cleaning device I6 is provided with a longitudinally extending bore 18, and slidably arranged in the bore I8 is a pair of lock pins H). The lock pins 19 have theirinner ends tapered, as at 20, Figures 3 and 5. The base I! is provided with a threaded opening or aperture 2| which communicates with the bore 18. Arranged in threaded engagement with the opening 21 is a set screw 22, the set screw 22 being arranged in engagement with the tapered ends 20 of the lock pins l9. Thus, by positioning the base I! between the side walls l3 and I4, and then screwing the set screw 22 into the opening 2|, the pair of lock pins I9 will be wedged against the inner surfaces of the side walls I3 and I4 so that the cleaning device will be maintained immobile in its proper position on the frame I0.

Formed integrally with the base I! or secured thereto is a flange 23. A pin 24 serves to connect a spring member 25 to the flange 23. The spring member 25 includes a first arm 26 that is arranged in engagement with the upper surface of the base [1.

The spring member 25 further includes a second arm 21 which serves to support an oilcarrying pad 28 that may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as felt. Formed integrally with the arm 21 is a clamp bracket 29 which serves to clamp the pad 28 onto the arm 21. The upper portion of the pad 28 is cut away, as at 3|], so as to conform in configuration to the arcuate portion of the shuttle l5 which is to be cleaned.

In use, the base ll of the shuttle-cleaning device It is arranged between the side walls l3 and IA of the sewing machine frame l0. Then, the screw 22 is tightened into the threaded opening 2| so that the lock pins l9 will be forced or wedged against the inner surfaces of the side walls [3 and M. This will insure that the cleaning device is maintained immobile in its correct position relative to the shuttle IS. The felt pad 28 is saturated with a suitable white oil, and the spring member 25 serves to urge the pad 28 into engagement with the shuttle l5, whereby lint or other foreign material will be wiped from 3 the thread or shuttle l5, as the shuttle I5 is rotated.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that an automatic shuttle-cleaning device has been provided which will insure that the stitch is maintained free of foreign matter, and whereby the necessity of cleaning the machine will be minimized. Further, the cleaning device of the present invention will eliminate the necessity of using the usual'felt padding which is arranged in the upper part of' the 'machine, since the usual felt padding is not satisfactory. The cleaning device of the present invention will insure that the operator does not get splattered'with oi1,'so that shields will not be required to protect the face and eyes from the oil. The shuttle-cleaning device can be used on any type of sewing -ma chine, th shuttle-cleaning device being especially suitable for use on high-speed sewing machines of the type used by shoemakers. The

I claim: 'In 'a' sewing'machine, the combination with a frame' 'provided with a channel, said channel defining a pair'of spaced parallel sidewalls on opposite sides thereof,- and a rotary thread-carryir'ig shuttle 'positioned'in said channel" and rotatspring member including first and second arms,

the first arm arranged in engagement with the upper surface of said base and the second arm diverging from one end of said first arm, a pin connecting said spring member at the juncture of said arms with said flange, and an oil-carrying pad supported by said second arm in engagement with said shuttle.

ELI GOLDSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recoi'din'the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,080,877 Ashworth 'Dec. 9,1913 1,157,891 Mofiatt et a1. Oct--26, 1915 1,917,771 Myers July 11, 1933 2,453,827 Albers Nov. 16, 1948 

